The Story:
Wicker Park is an American remake of a French film entitled "L'Appartement." I've not seen the original, so I'm going to review this movie on its own merits.

It's a brutally cold, snowy winter in Chicago, which perfectly sets the moody tone of this film. Matthew (Josh Hartnett) is about to be married…but is obsessed with a beautiful dancer named Lisa (Diane Kruger) he first spots on the streets, window shopping. He follows her to dance class. He poses as a shoe salesman. He basically stalks her, not knowing what is possessing him to do so. But it works. Because before long, he's dating her. And then she disappears. And he's trying to track her down. His friend Luke (Matthew Lillard playing a sort of kooky, funny role like only he can, but more toned down than usual) knows about all of it, and tries to be a support system for Matthew. At the same time, Luke is busy with his own new girlfriend, with whom he can't even get to first base. At the same time, while searching for Lisa, Matthew (Hartnett's character, not Lillard) meets ANOTHER woman (Rose Byrne—who I feel gives the most emotionally drawn performance in the film by the end). But both men are in for a surprise, and so are their numerous women. Because just about every character in this movie is part of a twisted game in which everyone is out for his or her own heart, with no regard for who gets hurt in the process.

I have to admit, I was completely drawn in from the beginning of this film. The downside is, it's a bit too long, and could have been a bit more direct, but it manages to be dark and brooding, somewhat romantic and tragic, and intriguing all at once. Things that happen may seem like a coincidence, but nothing really is (although there are some issues involving deleted scenes that leave some plot holes. See below). The camera work is very sleek, stylish and MTV generation friendly, and also visually stunning. And the Tarantino-esque time continuity fun never manages to become too convoluted for following—and actually tips its hat to the impressive juggling abilities of the writer. The musical score is also quite haunting and perfectly sets the tone. The film is also rather heartbreaking, getting down to the nitty gritty of human interaction and relationships, and the consequences of our actions on others. All the actors hold their ground, no one really outshining anyone else, and no one particularly shining. It was a round of perfectly subdued performances, once again, adding to the melancholy tone of the film. I think what I liked most about this film is that, although the whole mess is somewhat cleaned up for a "happy ending," it's still pretty much of a downer. What can I say? Sometimes I just despise a way too happy ending.

The DVD

Video:
The DVD offers a 2:35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. The dense darks do the atmosphere justice, the color levels work perfectly, and the image is relatively sharp with just the right amount of cinematic softness. There are only hints of specs on the print, and progressive scan causes slight pixel blurring.

Sound:
The Dolby 5.1 surround sound works its magic during all the outdoor city scenes with rear speakers kicking in sharply. The audio is clear, with nice left/right travel and a deep, subtle underlying bass.

Extras:
For starters, the flashy split screen menus mimic the movie perfectly. The DVD automatically launches into previews. I couldn't opt out of them with the menu button, but I could fast forward through them. The extras rundown is:

LANGUAGES—Spoken English 5.1 or French Stereo. Subtitle option in English, French or Spanish.

OTHER GREAT MGM MOVIES—you guessed it. Trailers.

ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER—widescreen, 2.0.

SOUNDTRACK SPOT—ad for the CD with clips from the film.

PHOTO GALLERY—over 30 film stills, behind the scenes shots, and publicity stills.

DELETED SCENES—Over 15 minutes of completed footage that would have just made the movie even longer. Many of these scenes were obviously left out to simplify the complex plot. Unfortunately, some of the references were left in the film, and therefore, not explained enough. This helps clarify somewhat.

GAG REEL— everything on the DVD manages to keep the tone of the film, except this. An odd decision to include it.

MUSIC VIDEO—"Against All Odds" by The Postal Service. 2.0 stereo audio. The video is comprised of more funky camera editing applied to the already funky edits from the movie.

COMMENTARY—Director Paul McGuigan and actor Josh Hartnett give a melancholy commentary. Dry, technical stuff, but some interesting discussion of character motivations. And the two seems to appreciate the final product.

Final Thoughts:
Wicker Park plays out like an engrossing novel in which you want to find out where the complex, intertwining lives of all the characters are heading. Expect it to be a little too long, don't expect it to be a thriller, but do expect it to be a curious look at the darker side of love.